Now that Unreal Engine 4’s technology has the capacity to make game experiences more realistic than ever, we can’t help but ask what can they possibly do for old-school game franchises. Judging by some of the developments we’ve found on the Internet, we’re a bit surprised that more teams aren’t giving the technology a try, just to see what they come up with.

To provide some idea of what this tech can do for old-school franchises, we’ve found six examples that demonstrate two points. First, classic characters can work in a new setting, and second, they provide a fresh perspective on these retro favorites–and could guide them in a whole new direction.

Without further ado, here are six Unreal Engine tech demos of classic games you should check out.

Super Mario

Perhaps the most impressive of these demos comes from Aryoksini, who managed to make a stunning looking take on the classic Super Mario 64, with both exterior and interior locales. The use of lighting in itself is jaw dropping, but the classic animations recaptured in the tech is pretty neat, too. If Nintendo could produce a Mario game of this caliber for its forthcoming NX console, fans would be in for a real treat.

Doom 2

Next up is a recreation of the id first-person shooter Doom 2 from Sahkan, which is available for download here. Even though the video above is short, it’s certainly sweet, with some amazing lighting effects (especially on the weapon) and a whole lot of carnage. There’s plenty of detail on the enemies and levels as well. If you’re a fan of the genre or just want to see more crazy sparks fly from the chaingun, give it a try.

Ghosts ‘n Goblins

Even though Capcom already remade the original Ghosts ‘n Goblins as a 3D adventure (the PlayStation 2 game Maximo), it doesn’t compare to this awesome demo, which was put together by a team of seven in just a few weeks’ time. In fact, this Ghosts ‘n Goblins resembles something along the lines of Namco’s Dark Souls series, with plenty of creepy enemies and ambiance as the main character works his way through a small village. If Capcom took the time and money to make a game of this caliber, we’d definitely be interested.

The Legend of Zelda

Another Nintendo franchise that got an ambitious makeover with Unreal Engine 4 tech: the Legend of Zelda demo looks simply fantastic, whether it’s the artistry that went into Link himself, or the world he finds himself exploring. ArtistArtorias did a bang-up job bringing this magical world to life (check out the reflection from the puddle!), and it leaves us asking, “Hey, Nintendo, is the forthcoming Legend of Zelda game going to look this good?” Guess we’ll find out next year.

Sonic the Hedgehog

Although Sega’s mascot has certainly seen better days (Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric certainly left a bad taste in some players’ mouths last year) this tech demo from CryZENx proves that, in the right surroundings, the blue hedgehog can still thrive. Although he doesn’t move around that much in the demo, this clip looks fantastic, whether he’s zipping into a herd of deer (“You’re too slow!”) or working his way up a mountainside. A full Sonic game with this tech would certainly do wonders for the speedy hero.

Pong

Out of all the Unreal Engine tech demos, Pong is probably the least technical out there, but the fact that Alexander Young could get it up and running and stay truthful to the original Atari code is worth noting. Plus, with the way it’s designed, it’s kind of hard to miss the ball this time around… well, unless you’re coming off a wall, that is. Those are always hard to catch.

Cover image source (Forbes)